Most of the time, the winner on laps of a 24 Hours of LeMons race takes the checkered flag with a nail-biting half-lap cushion, but that’s not how it went for the Goin’ Nuclear 1989 Honda Civic. This team built up a double-digit lead by Saturday afternoon, defended it all day Sunday, and ended the day with 14 more laps than the second-place car (an Accord).
Sometimes— in fact, most of the time— a Civic grinding out lap after screaming 6,000 RPM lap will pop its head gasket or worse, and that’s about the only hope Team Goin’ Nuclear’s pursuers had. As is always the case with a LeMons overall winner, Goin’ Nuclear ran a clean and consistent race, seemingly invisible on the track. The team’s drivers were especially skilled during the rainstorms that hit New Hampshire Motor Speedway both afternoons, gaining much of their edge while the competition slipped and slid their way into the Penalty Box. Congratulations, Goin’ Nuclear!